When purchasing rice from the grocery store, you are often presented with two primary options, white rice or brown rice. Although these rices may seem or even taste similar, there are many differences between the two types of rice that one should consider prior to purchasing.

The first difference between the two types of rice lies in the basic calories, although both foods are relatively high in calories, there is a slight difference between white and brown rice, with a cup a white rice having 242 calories and a cup of brown rice with 216. A much bigger difference comes in the fiber of the two rice types. Brown rice is full of fiber with about 5 grams of fiber per serving, while white rice generally only has 1/2 a gram of fiber in each serving. This is one of the few reasons that people switch to brown rice in an attempt to eat healthier. Another reason lies in the amount of carbohydrates.
There are about 55 grams of carbs in a cup of white rice, while around 40 grams in a cup of brown rice. This is especially important for those wishing to take on low-carb diets. Although there is still a reasonable amount of carbs in brown rice, if you are eating rice, brown is definitely the best option when it comes to carbs.

For those looking for a reason to eat brown rice aside from low-carb reasons, research has shown that eating brown rice over white rice can actually lower one’s chances of getting type 2 diabetes. Individuals who eat five or more servings of white rice a week actually raise their chances of developing type 2 diabetes while those eating two or more servings of brown rice actually lowered their chances of developing the disease. As if this research isn’t enough, brown rice is also full of many essential vitamins and minerals including magnesium.

While there are numerous benefits to brown rice there are also a few minor disadvantages consumers should be aware of prior to purchasing. The first is that brown rice has a shorter shelf life than white rice, which is important for those buying rice for long term storage, also it takes considerably longer to cook. Other than those minor setbacks, one may want to consider trying brown rice in lieu of white for their next meal, as they just may enjoy all of the health benefits that come with it.

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